Argall Leaning Against Run In PA-17.

State Sen. David Argall ... ... said he's pooh-poohed the opportunity to run against U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17th District, next year.

Argall, R-Schuylkill, says he's told national Republicans to "please keep looking for anotehr candidate" to put up against Holden, a 17-year House veteran.

Argall, a two-decade state House member who was elected to the Senate earlier this year, replacing the late Sen. Jim Rhoades of Carbon County, says he's too busy with his day-job to consider a bid. He said he also has his hands full teaching night at Penn State's Harrisburg campus.

Argall said he was approached shortly before Election Day this fall about the possibility of challenging Holden, who has not yet faced serious competition since the 2001 redrawing of his seat.

"It was not a phone call that I expected," he said.

Asked about the absence of competition for Holden, who defeated former GOP congressman George Gekas of Harrisburg in 2002 to win his redrawn seat, Argall responded:

"I think Tim has proven to be a very effective vote-getter. People sometimes question his effectiveness as a congressman. But there's no doubt to his effectiveness as a vote-getter," he said.

Argall said he traveled to Washington about two weeks ago, where he met with officials from the National Republican Congressional Committee and some GOP members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation. He declined to name participants.

Asked whether he would change his mind if he was leaned on hard enough by GOP leaders dying to send Holden packing, Argall told Capitol Ideas that he most likely would not.

"I’ve told them to please keep looking for another candidate and that is pretty much where we have left it," he said.